Quote

I am a Christian…so that I do not expect ‘history’ to be anything but a ‘long defeat’ — though it contains (and in a legend may contain more clearly and movingly) some samples or glimpses of final victory.

J. R. R. Tolkien

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

J. R. R. Tolkien
Age: 81 †
Born: 1892
Born: January 3
Died: 1973
Died: September 2
Author
Essayist
Historian
Illustrator
Linguist
Literary Critic
Military Officer
Poet
Teacher
Translator
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien
John R. R. Tolkien
J-R-R Tolkien
Tolkien
J.R.R. Tolkien
J. R. R. Tolkien
History
Finals
Glimpses
Anything
Clearly
Sample
May
Defeat
Legend
Long
Expect
Contain
Victory
Contains
Though
Legends
Faith
Glimpse
Christian
Final
Samples

More quotes by J. R. R. Tolkien

Image
Farewell we call to hearth and hall! Though wind may blow and rain may fall. We must away ere the break of day. Far over wood and mountain tall.
J. R. R. Tolkien
Image
The strongest must seek a way, say you? But I say: let a ploughman plough, but choose an otter for swimming, and for running light over grass and leaf, or over snow- an Elf!
J. R. R. Tolkien
Image
After all, I believe that legends and myths are largely made of 'truth'.
J. R. R. Tolkien
Image
After some while Bilbo became impatient. Well, what is it? he said. The answer's not a kettle boiling over, as you seem to think by the noise you are making.
J. R. R. Tolkien
Image
As she stood before Aragorn she paused suddenly and looked upon him, and her eyes were shining. And he looked down upon her fair face and smiled but as he took the cup, his hand met hers, and he knew that she trembled at the touch.
J. R. R. Tolkien
Image
Do not spoil the wonder with haste!
J. R. R. Tolkien
Image
Come, Mr. Frodo!' he cried. 'I can't carry it for you, but I can carry you.
J. R. R. Tolkien
Image
I cordially dislike allegory in all its manifestations, and always have done since I grew old and wary enough to detect its presence.
J. R. R. Tolkien
Image
Every writer making a secondary world wishes in some measure to be a real maker, or hopes that he is drawing on reality: hopes that the peculiar quality of this secondary world (if not all the details) are derived from Reality, or are flowing into it.
J. R. R. Tolkien
Image
Farewell! wherever you fare, till your eyries receive you at the journey’s end!
J. R. R. Tolkien
Image
But Sam turned to Bywater, and so came back up the Hill, as day was ending once more. And he went on, and there was yellow light, and fire within and the evening meal was ready, and he was expected. And Rose drew him in, and set him in his chair, and put little Elanor upon his lap. He drew a deep breath. ‘Well, I’m back,’ he said
J. R. R. Tolkien
Image
Faërie contains many things besides elves and fays, and besides dwarfs, witches, trolls, giants, or dragons it holds the seas, the sun, the moon, the sky and the earth, and all things that are in it: tree and bird, water and stone, wine and bread, and ourselves, mortal men, when we are enchanted.
J. R. R. Tolkien
Image
The most improper job of any man, even saints (who at any rate were at least unwilling to take it on), is bossing other men. Not one in a million is fit for it, and least of all those who seek the opportunity.
J. R. R. Tolkien
Image
Some who have read the book, or at any rate have reviewed it, have found it boring, absurd, or contemptible, and I have no cause to complain, since I have similar opinions of their works, or of the kinds of writing that they evidently prefer.
J. R. R. Tolkien
Image
Memory is not what the heart desires.
J. R. R. Tolkien
Image
True education is a kind of never ending story — a matter of continual beginnings, of habitual fresh starts, of persistent newness.
J. R. R. Tolkien
Image
Far more often [than asking the question 'Is it true?'] they [children] have asked me: 'Was he good? Was he wicked?' That is, they were far more concerned to get the Right side and the Wrong side clear. For that is a question equally important in History and in Faerie.
J. R. R. Tolkien
Image
And yet their wills did not yield, and they struggled on.
J. R. R. Tolkien
Image
Arrow! Black arrow! I have saved you to the last. You have never failed me and I have always recovered you. I had you from my father and he from of old. If ever you came from the forges of the true king under the Mountain, go now and speed well!
J. R. R. Tolkien
Image
I put before you the one great thing to love on earth: the Blessed Sacrament.
J. R. R. Tolkien